“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13 NIV)
It’s Thursday, and actually six days before Valentine’s Day. If you are planning to give a special gift next week to that special someone in your life, let me tell you about a gift that has been referred to as “the greatest of these.” Am I referring to chocolates, cards, cuddly bears adorned with cute hearts and/or colorful roses, or chic clothes? Of course not! I am referring to some good loving! Hold on! Don’t stop reading! Let me explain! Let me be more precise about the particular, perfect gift for the promptly approaching occasion! My precise advice: Give love as described in these verses:
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8a The Message Bible)
Oh, I usually reserve this reminder for Saturday’s but it’s appropriate to remind you in advance, in the context of giving a special gift for Valentine’s Day. Give a pre-Valentine Day gift! Take that special someone to church with you! Let them be in the special presence of the One who, based on love, sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life. Take them to the place where they can learn about “no greater love” than to pay the price for our sin on an old rugged cross. Have a lovely day! Love you! Be blessed!
“No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. You are my friends if you keep on doing what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father. You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name [as My representative] He may give to you.” (John 15:13-16 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
These daily meditations can be found at markwritesdaily.com.